Marcus Rashford's Resurgence at Manchester United: Harry Maguire's Confidence

Harry Maguire believes Marcus Rashford can still be a force at Manchester United this season – and says the forward has returned looking “really fit and sharp” after a turbulent spell away from Old Trafford.

Rashford, now 28, started his first Premier League game for United in 21 months in the wild 5-2 win over Ipswich, immediately reminding everyone of the damage he can cause. He stretched the game, ran at defenders, and looked like a player with a point to prove.

Not long ago, his United future looked broken beyond repair. A fallout with former boss Ruben Amorim pushed him to the fringes, then out of the door. A loan to Aston Villa, another to Barcelona. At Camp Nou, he came close to staying for good, with a £26m option on the table that the Catalan club ultimately chose not to trigger.

Now the window is about to slam shut on Tuesday night, and the picture has flipped. Rashford is set to stay at the club he grew up in, and those inside the dressing room sound ready to rally around him.

“He's a great talent,” said Maguire. “He's always a threat.

“If Marcus wants to be here, wants to work, wants to improve and help the team, of course we're willing to have him in the team.

“He could still do a lot more and I think he'll say he can do more but if we keep him fit, we keep him happy, he keeps driven and hungry, he's a great asset to have.”

The words matter because the noise around Rashford has been relentless. The criticism predates Michael Carrick and even goes back to Erik ten Hag’s tenure. His work-rate has been picked apart. His body language analysed. At times, the basic question has been asked: does he still enjoy football?

His time away from Old Trafford offered a different view. Under Unai Emery at Villa and Hansi Flick at Barcelona, Rashford rediscovered some sharpness and tactical discipline. Those close to him believe those experiences hardened him and broadened his game. Back at United, he now finds a head coach in Carrick who not only knows him well from their previous spell together, but also understands the club’s demands in a way few others can.

“You've got to remember Marcus has had a wonderful career for this club,” Maguire said.

“But when you play at this club for numerous years, there's going to be bad seasons, and when the bad seasons come everyone piles on you. That's part and parcel of playing for this club.

“As a club, we haven't been perfect from top to bottom. We haven't been challenging at the top end. So, Marcus has been part of a rough ride for Manchester United.

“When that happens, players get dug out. I've been through it.”

Maguire’s own story gives his defence of Rashford more weight. He, too, looked finished at Old Trafford not so long ago – stripped of the captaincy, out of the team, seemingly heading for the exit under Ten Hag. He stayed, fought his way back, and has rebuilt his status. The centre-back recognises the same crossroads in Rashford’s career.

“He's come back in, really fit and sharp and we're excited to have him,” Maguire added.

Carrick has already described Rashford as feeling like a new signing. The United manager has recent form for reviving careers. Kobbie Mainoo is the standout example.

Once repeatedly overlooked by Amorim, Mainoo has flourished under Carrick, emerging as a central figure in midfield. Yet he, too, has had to absorb a blow. After his club breakthrough, he travelled with England to the World Cup but never kicked a ball under Thomas Tuchel.

On Saturday, Mainoo responded the right way. Handed his first start of the season against Ipswich, he grew into the game after United fell behind, taking control of midfield as the match opened up.

“I thought he was brilliant,” said Maguire.

“To say he hasn't had many minutes in pre-season, he was magnificent.

“His work without the ball has improved so much since Michael's been in. He's becoming a real monster in there, wins a lot of second balls and a lot of duels.

“The thing is he's so young. If we want him to play for this club for another 10 years, there's going to be times where he's going to go through a patch like I spoke about with Rashy and myself.

“But that's part and parcel. He's really level-headed, really composed and has great belief in his ability.

“He's going to be a magnificent player for this club for many years.”

United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich felt like more than an early-season goal rush. It carried the sense of a reset. Rashford back in the starting XI, running free. Mainoo staking his claim again. Maguire anchoring the defence and the dressing room.

The transfer window will close, the speculation will die down, and the scrutiny will sharpen. Then comes the real test: can this group, bruised but still brimming with talent, turn individual revivals into a sustained challenge at the top end where Maguire insists they should have been all along?